Machine



2. Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. RU'CKDESCHBL. EMBROIDERING MACHINE. No. 458,040. Patented Aug. 18,1891.

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J. RUCKDBSGH-BL. 11111811011111111118 MACHINE.

Ne. 458,040. Patented Aug. 18, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHANN RUCKDESOHEL, OF PLAUEN, GERMANY.

EMBROIDERING-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,040, dated August18, 1891.

Application filed January 17, 1891. Serial No. 378,132. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHANN RUoKDEscHEL, manufacturer, of Plauen,Voigtland, Germany, a citizen of Germany, residing at Plauen, Voigtland,in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany, have invented certain new and usefulmechanism whereby an ornamental line of stitching, formed in two or morecontrasting colors, may be laid upon the surface of a textile or otherfabric, each color being produced by a separate thread.

It is my obj ect more particularly to provide simple automatic mechanismcapable of carrying as manyseparate threads as there are distinct ordifferent colors in the line of stitching, and provided with a shiftingthreadguide whereby each of said threadsis brought in its turn withinreach 0f the needle of the machine, by which each thread is engaged,drawn through the cloth or other fabric, and looped. the loop being laidupon the surface of the fabric and the needle disengaged from it topermit the engagement of the latter with the succeeding thread and theformation of a further stitch of a different color.

The invention consists to these ends in the several novel features ofconstruction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully described,and then specifically pointed out and defined in the claims followingthis specification.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and practice saidinvention, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings,` in which- Figure lis asectional elevation of a machine embodying my invention, theverticalsection plane lying substantially in the 'line of the axis ofthe thread-guide. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of thethread-guide and its connections and of the cloth-plate and a portion ofthe bed-plate, said parts being represented on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3is a sectional view,upon an enlarged scale, of a portion of thethread-guide, needle-plate, and

needle, showing the manner of effecting the engagement of the needlewith the threads.

Fig. et is a similar view showing the same parts, the needle beingraised and the stitch partly formed from one of the threads. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the same parts, showing the needle in position forasuccessive engagement with the thread and the thread-guide shifted forforming a second stitch by the other and separate thread. Fig. (l is aView of the same parts, showing the feed movement of the fabricfollowing the rise of the needle to enable the latter to lay the loop orstitch upon said fabric. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a portion of fabricornamented with the stitch.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 denotes the bed-plate ofthe machine having a removable cloth-plate 2, of the usual constructionin sewing-machines. From one end of the bed-plate rises an arm 3,supporting a horizontal arm 4, which carries the head 5, within or uponwhich is mounted the needle-bar and the presser-foot (i, with thedevices by which the former is reciprocated through the movementcommunicated by the shaft 7, which is driven by a pulley 8 from anysuitable source of power. The needle 9 in this machine is a straightvertically-reciprocating needle, and the feed movement is derived fromthe presser-foot G by any known or preferred form of actuating devices,which are all familiar to those skilled in the art, and therefore needno description in this specilication.

Beneath the cloth-plate 2 and concentric with the needle-opening 10,formed therein, is a recess Within which lies the flange or collar 12 ofa vertical sleeve 13, which passes down through the bed-plate and dropssome distance beneath the latter,its upper portion recivin g furthersupport in a short sleeve-bearing 14, depending from a plate 15, securedto the lower face of the bed-plate.

Within the sleeve 13 is arranged a threadguide 1G, consisting ofatubular body having a length greater than that of the sleeve 13,whereby its lower open end passes through a plug 17, closing the lower end ofsaid sleeve, and projects below the same. A collar 18, formed rests uponthe plug 17 and prevents the downward movement thereof, while a secondcollar 19, lying below an inwardly-formed projection 20, near the upperend of the sleeve 13, prevents the longitudinal upward displacement ofthe thread-guide, but presents no obstacle to its rotary movement. Theupper end of the thread-guide is closed, save as to a central verticalaperture 2l, to permit the entrance of the needle. Atdiametricallyopposite points relatively to the needle-opening 21thread-openings 22 and 23 are formed, lying at an angle with the axis ofthe tubular body and communicating with the interior thereof and withshallow channels 24, cut in the outer surface of the closed end or headof the thread-guide between the needle-opening and the ends of thethread-openings.

Upon the plug 17, which projects below the end of the sleeve 13, ismounted or formed a stationary cross-head 25, having two oppositebracket-arms 2G, upon which are mounted spools 27, carrying the threads,which are passed through eyes 28 in the ends of springguides 29, thelatter being supported by arms 30, mounted on the cross-head 25. Fromthe eyes 28 the threads pass upward within the tubular body of thethread-guide and their ends are threaded through the openings 23 and 24and pass up through the needle-opening in the cloth-plate. Atension-spring 31, coiled upon a pin 32, set in the cross-head 25, restsupon each spool, the tension being adj usted by turning the pin 32.

Upon the exterior of the tubular body ot' the thread-guide is formed amale thread 33, of high pitch, meshing with which is a nut 34, arrangedto slide within the sleeve 13. Surrounding the latter is a ring 35,connected with the nut 34 by one or more screws 3G, which pass throughvertical slots 37 in the sleeve. In the central part of the ring isformed a circumferential channel or race 38, in which at pointsdiametrically opposite each other lie trunnion-bearings'39, mounted uponthe ends of the arms of a fork 40 upon the end of a lever 41. This leverhas its fulcrum upon a drop-bracket 42 upon the under side of thebed-plate, and its end is connected by a pitman 43 with a ring-cam 44upon studbearing 45, which is geared to the shaft 7 by a spur-gear 46,having a diameter double that of the driving-pinion 47, whereby thespurgear will have a half-revolution to each complete revolution of theshaft 7. By this means the ring 35 will rise at one revolution of theshaft 7 and descend at the next revolution, giving opposite revolutionto the threadguide 1G at each successive rotation of said shaft.

The needle used in this machine is a straight vertically-reciprocatingneedle having, instead of an eye, an open hook 48 formed at or about thepoint where the needle-eye is usually located in the ordinary sewingneedle. No shuttle is employed, as the stitch formed is of the kindordinarily known as a chainstitch.

The operation of the mechanism is as fob lows The threads lying in thethread-opem ings 22 and 23 being of different colors, and being carriedfrom the spring-guides upward through the tubular body of thethread-guide 16, and being threaded through the said openings in theupper end or head of the guide, are laid in the thread-channels or slots24, leading to the central vertical opening 21 for the needle and thenbrought up through the needle-opening 10 in the cloth-plate 2. Themachine is now ready for operation. The cloth or other fabric being laidupon the clothplate between the same and the presser and feed foot 6,the machine is started, the needle making its downward stroke Withoutcarrying a thread. As the hook 48 upon said needle passes into theneedleaperture 2l in the upper end of the thread-guide 16 and begins towithdraw from the same, the said threadguide 16, which has beenmeantime' in rotation, has moved so far that one of the threads-forexample, thatlyingin the threadopening 22-is drawn partly around the needie and over that edge of the same upon which the open hook is formed,as shown in Fig. 3, whereby as the hook 48 emerges from theneedle-opening 21 in the thread-guide it catches said thread and drawsit up through the needle-opening in the cloth-plate and through thefabric in the form of a loop, as shown in Fig. 4. The fabric is now fedone step and the needle descends to form a second stitch, laying theformed loop of thread upon the fabric as its hook passes through thelatter, where it is held by the presser and feed foot 6,which advancesto make a further feed. As the needle descends in the manner described,the ring 35 moves in a direction lopposite to that imparted to it duringthe first stroke of the needle, and it thereby causes a reverse rotationof the tubular thread-guide 16, by which the other thread from opening23 is drawn partly around it, as shown in Fig. 5, the thread fromopening 22 being at the same time brought into such a position as toavoid engagement with the hook 4S. As the needle rises this hook catchesthe thread lying in the thread-opening 23 and draws the loop formedthereby through the loop laid upon the fabric by the previous action ofthe needle. The fabric is now fed a single step, as before. 'lhe needleascends, laying the second loop upon said fabric. The presser and feedfoot 6 advances and holds the loop. The thread-guide again rotates, andthe operation is repeated, In this manner a line of stitching may beformed of two contrasting colors, giving a highly-ornamental effect.

The thread used may not be only of different colors, but may also be ofdifferent size, whereby the decorative appearance of the stitching maybe varied.

By making the cross-head 25 stationary and disconnecting it from thethread-guide 16 I avoid imposing the weight of the cross-head and spoolsorbobbins upon said thread-guide.

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The latter is yin consequence more easily operated, and as the gearingis not compelled to carry any surplus Weight the mechanism is capable ofmore rapid operation. This construction requires that the thread-guideshall rotate alternately in opposite directions to avoid twisting thethreads.

Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a machine for forming ornamentalstitching, the combination, with a reciprocating needle having an openhook, of a tubular thread-guide having a central needle-opening andopposite thread-openings and opposite exterior channels guiding thethreads to the central needle-opening, and means for imparting to saidthread-guide a series of intermittent rotary movements in oppositedirections, alternately, subst-antially as described.

2. In a machine for forming ornamental stitching, the combination, witha verticallyreciprocating needle having an open hook, of a tubularthread-guide having a central needle-opening in its upper end beneathand in line with the needle-opening in the cloth-plate and provided withthread-openings leading from the interior of the thread-guide intoopposite exterior channels formed in the sides and top of thethread-guide and leading to the central needle-opening, and means forimparting to said thread-guide successive half-rotations in oppositedirections by successive complete revolutions of the needleshaft,substantially as described.

3. In a machine for forming ornamentall stitching, the combination, withaverticallyreciprocating needle having an open hook and with a presserand feed foot, of a tubular thread-guide arranged vertically, its upperclosed end lying beneath the cloth-plate and having a centralneedle-opening communicating by opposite channels with threadopeningspassing through the cylindrical wall of the thread-guide, and a supportfor said thread-guide and having stationary spoolbrackets, substantiallyas described.

4. In a machine for forming ornamental stitchin g, the combination, witha needle having an open hook and with a vertical tubular thread-guidehaving its closed end provided with a central needle-opening in linewith the opening in the cloth-plate and communicating with channelsleading to thread-openings in the cylindrical wall of the thread-guide,of a nut meshing with a male thread on said guide, a ring movable on asleeve supporting said guide and connected with the nut by pins orscrews passing through slots in the sleeve, a lever having a forked endconnected to said ring, and a ring-cam on a countern shaft geared withthe needle-shaft to revolve once to two revolutions of the latter, saidcam being connected to the lever by a pitman, substantially asdescribed.

5. Ina machine for forming decorative stitching, the combination, with averticallymoving needle having an open hook, of a tubular thread-guidehaving its closed upper end arranged beneath the cloth-plate andprovided with a central needle-opening, a supporting and guiding sleevefor the thread-guide, having stationary spool-brackets carrying spoolsof dierent colored threads which pass through spring-eyes and up throughthe tubular thread-guide, through thread-openings in its cylindricalWall, and thence through the needle-opening in the cloth-plate, andtension devices acting upon said spools, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHANN RUCKDESCHEL. Witnesses:

CARL FR. KEIOHELT, PAUL DRUQKMLLER.

